TAMPA — The rain yesterday robbed manager Joe Girardi of a chance to watch Curtis Granderson play left field for the first time this spring.
Granderson was scheduled to start in left against the Nationals in Viera, Fla., but the game was called while the Yankees were traveling across the state.
Though Granderson likely will be Girardi’s everyday center fielder, the manager is intrigued to find out if the former Tiger can handle left.
PETTITTE PITCHES SIMULATED GAME
“I want to see how he reacts to balls in left,” said Girardi, who makes out the lineup cards with his coaches five days in advance and didn’t know if Granderson will play left in one of the two games today against the Tigers (away) and Orioles (home). “It’s a different angle and the ball will go somewhat a different way.”
The evaluation process is based on what type of action Granderson gets in left.
“If you don’t get a lot of testers, it’s gong to be hard to tell,” Girardi said.
Granderson’s “I’ll Do Whatever Asked” attitude has enabled Girardi to get a look at him in left knowing the player isn’t griping.
“It makes it real easy when you have players who do what they ask them,” Girardi said. “That shows you they check their egos when they come into the clubhouse.”
Granderson took some bad routes to balls late last year and the Yankees may have a reason for it: Comerica Park.
“We saw that Detroit’s center field is one of the toughest center fields to play,” Girardi said. “We have every stat available. It wasn’t necessarily Detroit center fielders.”
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The rain forced scheduled starter Andy Pettitte to pitch a second simulated game at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“Unfortunately that’s what we had to do,” said Pettitte, who has not yet appeared in an exhibition game. “I pitched with intensity. This was definitely good for me. The biggest thing for me is to build arm strength. I felt stronger than the last time out.”
Pettitte, who threw three simulated frames, is scheduled to face the Phillies on Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla., when he hopes to throw 60 pitches across four innings.
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According to Girardi, Alex Rodriguez hasn’t told the club he will need a day off to talk to the FBI about his involvement with Dr. Anthony Galea.
“As far as I know he is available every day,” Girardi said of Rodriguez, who might talk to the feds Monday when the Yankees are off.
Girardi said he recognizes a difference in Rodriguez from a year ago, when the third baseman returned from hip surgery.
“I notice a bounce in his step every day,” Girardi said of Rodriguez, who said there was nothing new with the Galea situation. “You don’t see him taking gingerly steps like he did last year. To me he looks like the normal Alex.”
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Though Thursday’s and Friday’s games were rained out, the Yankees aren’t taking a day off away from the players Monday.
“It’s a scheduled day off and guys have things they have done and we have plenty of work for the players in games so we will be okay,” Girardi said.
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Derek Jeter returned to work yesterday after being sent home Thursday because of food poisoning that was initially believed to be the flu.
Jeter is on the travel list for today’s game in Lakeland, Fla., against the Tigers.
“He said he felt good,” Girardi said.
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Girardi said the club is monitoring Alfredo Aceves‘ back situation. The problem hasn’t forced Aceves to miss a game, but he is being held out of occasional drills.